Summary

• We Were Soldiers captures the loyalty and heroism of soldiers during times of war, honoring their sacrifices and the unbreakable bonds they share with their families.
• The film doesn't glorify war but instead highlights the personal experiences and consequences it has on soldiers, conveying the weight of their sacrifice.
• It emphasizes the strong bond formed between soldiers and their families, showcasing the unique experience military members have and the recognition they deserve.

We Were Soldiers tells the true story of the first major battle of the Vietnam War between North Vietnamese forces and the United States in 1965. As Veterans Day is celebrated across the country this month, such a film is worth revisiting. Not to be confused with Memorial Day, when soldiers of the United States military who’ve paid the ultimate price are remembered, Veterans Day seeks to recognize and honor all generations of those who have served in any capacity and made sacrifices for the United States military.

A film about the loyalty and heroism of soldiers under fire, it captures the spirit of what Veterans Day is supposed to represent and highlights the valor of soldiers during times of war. A film for civilians as well as veterans, it seeks to present the sacrifices soldiers and their families make during times of war that often go unnoticed by the general public. Over 20 years after its release, We Were Soldiers still holds up and is worth revisiting this Veterans Day. The film honors soldiers who’ve served in the military, doesn’t glorify the perceived necessity of war, and aims to highlight the unbreakable bonds only soldiers and their families understand.

Seeks to Honor All Soldiers

Depicting the courage and sacrifice soldiers embody as they serve within the Armed Forces and live with the possibility of war, the film honors the valor they exude during such times and empathizes with the families they leave behind in order to fulfill their duties as soldiers. We Were Soldiers portrays the humanity of its military personnel by giving the audience a glimpse into their personal lives alongside their wives and young children. As such, the sacrifices they face at the onset of the Vietnam War, as shown in the film, make it all the more heart-wrenching. By recognizing such sacrifices, civilian audiences are able to appreciate the gravity of the situation represented on screen and connect those emotions to current military members and their families.

A War Film That Doesn’t Glorify War

We Were Soldiers doesn’t glorify the perceived necessity of war. Rather, it seeks to shine a light on the consequences such wars have on its soldiers and strives to ensure their names are not forgotten. While plenty of films about war seek to highlight the mechanics of particular battles or the political choices that resulted in war, We Were Soldiers aims to highlight what fighting on the frontlines does to a person. By honing in on specific soldiers engaged in Vietnam’s first major battle, viewers are thrust into the struggles they face as soldiers and the dilemma that comes with making familial sacrifices for the sake of one’s duty. Because audiences are able to witness such personal experiences on screen, the weight of war and a soldier’s sacrifice becomes palpable.

We Were Soldiers isn’t a critique of war so much as it’s a tribute to those who serve and fight because they believe it’s their duty to do so. It’s a film that doesn’t shy away from the bloodiness of war, nor does it ever let up during its battle sequence. Once American soldiers land on Vietnamese soil, the sequences of war and gunfire last for the majority of We Were Soldiers. It’s a grueling depiction of war. When it finally does cut away from the battle, viewers are met with the wives of those men as they begin to receive telegrams informing them of who has died. We Were Soldiers is strictly about soldiers and their families. It aims to highlight their actions and their sacrifices without glorifying the brutality of war and strives to ensure their names are remembered.

Highlights the Bond Between Soldiers and Their Families

The major accomplishment We Were Soldiers manages to achieve is its depiction of the bonds formed between soldiers and their families. The emphasis on brotherhood and looking out for one another reigns supreme throughout the entirety of the film. Even the bond shared among their wives is something only military families can truly understand. By depicting it on screen in such an admirable manner, viewers can witness how so many service members live a unique experience in the United States that deserves recognition.

If there’s one thing audiences are left with at the film’s conclusion, it’s to remember the names of those who fought and sacrificed. By remembering the names of soldiers who valiantly served the United States in any capacity and acknowledging the sacrifices those soldiers and their families make daily to fulfill their duty to the country, civilians can honor its veterans. We Were Soldiers is the kind of film that leaves audiences with a sense of appreciation for the numerous ways in which veterans have aided in maintaining security within the United States, as well as abroad, that so many Americans have become accustomed to and often take for granted. As such, the film is worth revisiting this month as it still holds up over 20 years later.

Stream We Were Soldiers on Paramount+